John 1:26

“John answered them, saying, I baptize with water, etc.] Or in water, so the Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions render it. The sense of the answer is, that he indeed baptized persons in water, which was all that he could do, or pretended to do; and he owned, that this was a new rite, and that he was the administrator of a new ordinance; but he suggests, as may be supplied from (<400311>Matthew 3:11) that there was one at hand, and even now among them, that should baptize, and so it is read in one of Stephens’s copies here, in the Holy Ghost, and in fire; and it was by his authority, by a commission he had received from him, that he baptized in water; and that his speedy…”

“there standeth--This must have been spoken after the baptism of Christ, and possibly just after His temptation (see on Joh 1:29).”

“I baptize - He did not deny it; nor did he condescend to state his authority. That he had given. He “admitted” that he had introduced an important “change” in the rites of religion, and he goes on to tell them that this was not all. Greater and more important changes would soon take place without their authority. The Messiah was about to come, and the “power” was about to depart from “their” hands. There standeth one - There is one. Among you - In the midst of you. He is undistinguished among the multitude. The Messiah had already come, and was about to be manifested to the people. It was not until the next day John 1:29 that Jesus was manifested or proclaimed as the Messiah; but it is not…”

“John answered, I baptize - To prepare for the Messiah; and indeed to show that Jews, as well as Gentiles, must be proselytes to Christ, and that these as well as those stand in need of being washed from their sins. John 1:28”

“I: Mat 3:11; Mar 1:8; Luk 3:16; Act 1:5, Act 11:16 whom: Joh 1:10, Joh 1:11, Joh 8:19, Joh 16:3, Joh 17:3, Joh 17:25; Mal 3:1, Mal 3:2; Jo1 3:1 John 1:27”